Graduate Access and Widening Participation Project Manager

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an
international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research
plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon
emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.





**Department**



Graduate Admissions and Recruitment supports the collegiate University in all
activities related to the recruitment and admission of graduate students,
facilitating the recruitment and retention of the most academically-able
applicants and delivering ground-breaking graduate access initiatives to
support equity and diversity.





We are looking for a committed and experienced project manager on a 5-year
fixed-term basis. This is a pivotal role with responsibilities for the
development and delivery of innovative and ground-breaking access and widening
participation strategies and initiatives in graduate study. As this is an
emerging area of interest for the collegiate University, this is an exciting
time to be involved in these projects.





**What We Offer**





As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is
reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:





• An excellent contributory pension scheme



• 38 days annual leave



• A comprehensive range of childcare services



• Family leave schemes



• Cycle loan scheme



• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans



• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs





This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working, with a balance of
about 3 days in the office.





**About the Role**





The post-holder will be responsible for two key workstreams. The first will be
the expert management and delivery of our Close the Gap project, partly funded
by the Office for Students and Research England and run jointly with the
University of Cambridge. The project aims to improve access to postgraduate
research for ethnically minoritised students, and to propose and test
alternatives for the selection of research students. The post holder will also
line-manage the Project Communications Officer (Grade 7), and oversee the
internal and external communications strategy and plan for the project. The
project is in its third year and will run until December 2025.





The second workstream will be Oxford-specific, and will include the
development and management of some of Oxford’s initiatives in graduate access
and widening participation, ensuring alignment with the Close the Gap project
where appropriate. The post-holder will also play a critical role in
establishing and delivering a Graduate Recruitment and Access Strategy and
action plan, supporting the vision and aims of the collegiate University in
this area.





**About You**





This would be an excellent opportunity for candidates who have a genuine
interest in, and commitment to, access and widening participation work, and
who can demonstrate excellent organisational skills with day-to-day project
management experience on large or multi-stakeholder projects.





We will also expect the post-holder to have experience in shaping and
delivering strategies and new activity, as well as engaging and influencing
stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of agreed initiatives.



Outstanding interpersonal as well as oral and written communication skills are
essential, together with the ability to work proactively and collaboratively
with a range of colleagues in different teams.





**Application Process**





You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and
the details of two referees as part of your online application.





The closing date for applications is **12 noon on Thursday 2 May 2024**.





Interviews will take place on Monday 20 May and Wednesday 22 May 2024 and will
be face to face.